Tasmac’s ₹10 price hike and buy‑back plan stumble as outlets shut on launch day

Tasmac raised the maximum retail price of every liquor bottle by ₹10 from Nov 1, 2026, and offered a ₹10 refund for each empty bottle returned under a new “buyback” scheme. The corporation said the increase comes from an environment cess applied to all liquor variants. On the very first day of the rollout, several Tasmac outlets closed without warning. Staff blamed technical glitches in point‑of‑sale machines and a shortage of space to store the returned bottles. The price‑increase practice has been controversial for years, with successive Tamil Nadu governments issuing orders to stop adding extra ₹10 over MRP. Shop employees previously argued they needed the extra cash for bottle breakages, internet charges and other miscellaneous expenses. The issue drew sharper scrutiny after the TVK‑led coalition took office, prompting the government to issue strict guidelines and suspend workers caught collecting money above the prescribed MRP. ## Context The environment cess is a new levy meant to fund waste‑management efforts, while the buyback refund aims to encourage bottle recycling and reduce litter.